Motor vehicle



Oct 29, 1940. o. A. STEINMANN MOTOR VEHICLE Filed April 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0.fl.,dierzmazz7z' INVENTOR.

, ATTORNEYS;

Oct. 29, 1940. o. A.-STE1NMANNI mowqn VEHICLE Filed April 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented Oct. 29, 1940.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,219,828 Moron VEHICLE Oswald Axel Steinmann, River Grove, Ill. Application April 8, 1939, Serial 150.266,!40

2 Claims.

struction being such that the movable end porl tionsof the rear axle housing, and the corresp'ondin'g axle members, although capable of up and down movement, will be held against movement from front to back.-

It is within the province of the disclosure to im- 15 prove generally and to enhance the utility of devicesof that type to which-the present inven-- tion appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the 0'invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodimentof the invention herein disclosed, may 25 be made within the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 shows in top plan, a. device, constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4'0f Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; 35 Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown 40 ing braces 50 connected thereto. Parallel tubular transverse supports l are provided, and are equipped with terminal flanges l2l, secured to the inner surfaces of the chassis bars IS. The supports i are connected by transversely spaced 45 depending brackets 2, including connecting plates l1 extended lengthwise of the vehicles Clamps 'l are secured to the lower ends of the brackets 2. A differential casing I8 is disposed between the brackets 2 in engagement therewith, and con- 50 tains a difierential-mechanism 5|. The differential casing I8 is supplied with fixed inner axle housing sections 52, retained on the lower ends of the brackets 2,by the clamps I. v Y Movable outer axle housing sections H are sup- 55 plied, the inner ends of the sections l I being connected to the outer ends of the sections 52 by universal cup joints 8. At the outer ends of the movable axle housing sections l I, there are grease retaining cups l5, closed by caps 5. v Bushings M are located in the cups l5. Bush 5 ings l2 are mounted in the housing sections I i, near the inner ends thereof. Bearings 9 are mounted in the fixed housing sections 52. Outer axle members l3 are journaled in the bushings l4 and I 2, and carry the rear ground wheels 53 of 10 the vehicle. Inner axle members 2| are journaled in .the bearings 9 and are connected to the differential mechanism 5|. The outer axle members ii are connected to the inner axle members 2| by universal joints l0 disposed in the universal 5- Joint connections 8 of the axle housing. Gusset plates 2! are secured to the chassis bars l6 and to the braces 50, at the angles defined by those parts. Upper socket members 54 are secured to the gusset plates 210. Lower socket members 55 are attached to the upper socket members 54 by securing elements 56. The cavities of the upper socket members 54 and or the I 51, which may be made of rubber.

Parallel radius .arms 3 are disposed between the chassis bars IS. The radius arms 3 preferably are I-beams. Forked extensions l9 are supplied, and the forks of'the extensions receive the body portions of the radius arms 3. as Fig. 5 will show, the forked portions of the extensions fittingclosely between the upper and lower flanges of the radius arms 3, as depicted in' Fig. 3. Securing-elements 58 connect the forks of the extensions I9 to the bodies of the radius arms 3-. At their forward ends, the extensions IQ of the radius arms 3 are provided'with spherical heads 20, carrying resilient rubber coverings 59. cooperating with the linings 51 of the socket members 54 and 55, to take up shocks and Jars, the heads 20 40 being mounted to turn in the socket members 54 and 55.

Arched clips 50 extend over the movable housing sections II, the radius arms 3 being prolonged beneath the said housing sections. The clips 50 have oppositely projecting feet 6|, secured to the set of springs in front of the movable housing sections H, and a set of springs behind those sections.

Referring especially to Fig.2, it will be observed that the outer housing sections H and parts associated therewith can have free up and down movement,'each ground wheel 53 being capable of upward and downward movement independently of its fellow, the springs 6 affording the necessary cushioning action. Movement of the housing sections i I and associated parts, longitudinally of the vehicle, is prevented by the radius arms 3.

The device, although simple in construction.

will be found thoroughly advantageous for conspaced apart transversely of the vehicle, a differential casin disposed between the brackets, in engagement therewith, the casing having fixed, tubular, outwardly-extended, inner housing sections, means for securing the inner sections to the lower portions of the brackets, tubular outer housing sections, universal joint connections between the inner and outer housing sections, outwardly of the brackets but in close relation thereto, a. difierentjal mechanism in the casing, axles in-theinner and outer housing sections and con nected to the differential mechanism, means for lending flexibilit to the axles, within the universal joint connections, radius arms located between and below the bars in approximately parallel relation thereto, universal joint connections I between the forward ends of the radius arms and the frame, compression springs having their upper ends attached to the outer portions of the supports, and clips connecting the outer housing sections to the upper edges of the radius arms the lower ends of the springs exerting pressure on the clips, ahead of and behind the outer axle sections. 2. In a motor vehicle, a frame including chassis bars, transverse supports secured to the bars and spaced apart longitudinally of the vehicle, depending brackets connecting the supports and spaced apart transversely of the vehicle, a differential casing disposed between the brackets, in engagement therewith, the casing having fixed, tubular, outwardly-extended, inner housing sections, means for securing the inner sections to thelower portions 01' the brackets, tubular outer housing sections, universal joint connections between the inner and outer housing sections, out wardly of the brackets but in close relation thereto, a difierential mechanism in the casing, axles n the inner and outer housing sections and connected to the differential mechanism, means for lending flexibility to the axles, within the universal Joint connections, radius arms located between and below the bars in approximately parallei relation thereto universal joint connections between the forward ends of the radius arms and the frame, compression springs having their upper ends attached to the outer portions of the supports, the lower ends of the springs being connected to the radius arms ahead of and behind the outer axle sections, in close relation thereto, and means for connecting the rear ends of the radius arms to the outer housing sections.

' OSWALD AXEL STEINMANN. 

